Full results: 2025 Royal Fat Stock Show and Carcass Competition
PIETERMARITZBURG, 16 October, 2025 – The Royal Agricultural Society of Natal (RAS) today released the final results of the 2025 Royal Fat Stock Show and Carcass Competition.
On-the-hoof judging
The on-the-hoof component of the show was held on Saturday 11 October at the Lions River Sale Yard, with the entries judged by senior SAFJA judge Andrew Adams, assisted by Jonathan Tyler and Andrew Unsworth.
The event attracted exceptional A-grade slaughter animal entries in both the beef and lamb categories, and has generated wide interest from the agricultural community.
Dormers dominated the lamb section on the hoof, with Mich Turner’s Wanstead Dormers from Cedarville putting in an outstanding performance. Wanstead claimed the awards for both the Royal Show Champion Lamb Group and Reserve Champion Lamb Group, as well as the prestigious 2025 Royal Show Champion Lamb.
The 2025 Royal Show Reserve Champion Lamb on the hoof was awarded to Bruce Taylor from Middelrus, for an Ile de France.
The 2025 Super Lamb on the hoof was awarded to Christo Dorfling of Dorfling Dorpers, for a Dorper.
In the beef section, Duncan Watson of JOC Angus and Brangus dominated the majority of the categories on the hoof, and was awarded Reserve Champion of the Yard for his Brangus.
The Royal Show 2025 Champion of the Yard was awarded to Dino Raciti of Esco Feeds for his Droughtmaster-type ox which Andrew Adams described as “truly a great specimen of what we’re looking for going forward … the most balanced animal on show, with impeccable conformation and ideal fat cover”.
In the Champion Commercial Cow (Biltong Koei) Competition, Justin Fyvie of Tregenna Farming took top honours with a Santa Gertrudis-cross.
Carcass judging
The Royal Carcass Competition, the “on-the-hook” component of the show, was judged on Tuesday 14 October, 2025 by Chris Ngeleza and Selvan Odayan of SAMIC, at Halaal Fresh Meats Abattoir in Thornville.
The traditional Royal Carcass Auction was not included this year, and all carcasses were bought directly from the abattoir by Clover Meats, a premier butchery in Durban.
In the beef division, Duncan Watson’s Brangus entries dominated, securing the 2025 Royal Show Champion Beef Carcass award, as well as both the First and Second Reserve Champion Beef Carcass titles. His First Reserve Champion Carcass was Reserve Champion Animal on the Hoof at Saturday’s event too.
Watson’s success extended to the group classes, with awards for Champion Beef Group and Second Reserve Champion Beef Group, as well as the Reserve Champion Super Ox title.
The award for Second Reserve Champion Beef Group was claimed by Dino Raciti of ESCO Feeds with an impressive Droughtmaster entry.
Justin Fyvie of Tregenna Farming also shone, with his Santa Gertrudis earning the 2025 Royal Show Super Ox Champion Carcass title after securing First Reserve Champion Super Ox on the hoof.
In addition, Fyvie’s Santa Gertrudis-cross that won the Champion Commercial Cow (Biltong Koei) competition on the hoof over the weekend, was also named Champion Commercial Cow on the hook.
In the lamb section, Marius Eksteen’s Hatari Farming made history with a first-ever tie for the Royal Show Champion Lamb Carcass award, with two Dormers each scoring 84.04%. Hatari also claimed the Reserve Champion Lamb Carcass and the Champion Lamb Carcass Group award.
Christo Dorfling’s Dorfling Dorpers from Weenen achieved a rare feat, winning the Champion Super Lamb title both on the hoof and on the hook, with judges unanimously singling out the winning Dorper.
Mich Turner’s Wanstead Dormers also excelled, after a very strong performance in Saturday’s on-the-hoof judging, securing the First and Second Reserve Champion Carcass Group awards and the First and Second Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass titles. Wanstead’s Second Reserve Champion Super Lamb Carcass mirrored its on-the-hoof result from Saturday.
Wayne Muller, General Manager of the Royal Agricultural Society, lauded the competitors, noting: “The quality and dedication displayed by this year’s entrants bodes well for the future of fat stock shows in KwaZulu-Natal.”
The Society extends its gratitude to SAFJA judges Andrew Adams, Jonathan Tyler and Andrew Unsworth for their professional services in the on-the-hoof competition, and to Chris Ngeleza and Selvan Odayan of SAMIC for their expertise in the carcass judging. The Society is also grateful to RPO KZN and SAFJA for their vital support in ensuring this event’s success.
“This year’s competition was a resounding success celebrating agricultural heritage, community spirit, and a commitment to excellence,” Muller reflected. “We look forward to welcoming breeders back for our historic 175th anniversary show in 2026.”
The 2026 Royal Agricultural Show will take place from 29 May to 3 June at the new Tweedie Hall venue, just outside Howick in the KZN Midlands.
The full results of the 2025 Royal Fat Stock Show and Carcass Competition are listed below.
ROYAL FAT STOCK SHOW — ON-THE-HOOF JUDGING
LAMB RESULTS
Junior Group – Under 45kg
1. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
2. ES Ile de France Stud – Ebrahim Sheik (Ile de France)
3. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
Senior Group – 45–55kg
1. ES Ile de France Stud – Ebrahim Sheik (Ile de France)
2. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
3. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
Individual – Under 45kg
1. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
2. Bruce Taylor (Ile de France)
3. Bruce Taylor (Ile de France)
Individual – 45–55kg
1. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
2. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
3. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
Individual Super Lamb
1. Dorfling Dorpers – Christo Dorfling (Dorper)
2. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
3. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
Royal Show Champion Lamb Group
Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
Reserve Champion Lamb Group
Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
Royal Show Super Lamb 2025
Dorfling Dorpers – Christo Dorfling (Dorper)
Royal Show Reserve Champion Lamb 2025
Bruce Taylor (Ile de France)
Royal Show Champion Lamb 2025
Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
BEEF RESULTS
Under 470kg
1. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
2. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
3. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Under 530kg
1. Dino Raciti – ESCO Feeds (Droughtmaster)
2. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
3. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Over 530kg (Super Ox)
1. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
2. Justin Fyvie – 5 Star Santa Gertrudis (Santa Gertrudis)
3. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Best Group of 4 (Under 530kg)
1. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
2. Dino Raciti – ESCO Feeds (Droughtmaster)
3. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Best Slaughter Cow (Biltong Koei - no weight restriction)
1. Justin Fyvie – 5 Star Santa Gertrudis (Santa Gertrudis cross)
2. Peter Thomas – Oaksprings Farm (Sussex)
3. Justin Fyvie – 5 Star Santa Gertrudis (Santa Gertrudis cross)
Royal Show Champion Animal on the Hoof 2025
Dino Raciti – ESCO Feeds (Droughtmaster)
Royal Show Reserve Champion Animal on the Hoof 2025
Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
ROYAL CARCASS COMPETITION — ON-THE-HOOK JUDGING
LAMB RESULTS
Champion Lamb Carcass
1. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
2. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
3. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
Champion Lamb Carcass Group
1. Hatari Farming – Marius Eksteen (Dormer)
2. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
3. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
Champion Super Lamb Carcass
1. Dorfling Dorpers – Christo Dorfling (Dorper)
2. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
3. Wanstead Dormers – Mich Turner (Dormer)
BEEF RESULTS
Champion Beef Carcass
1. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
2. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
3. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Champion Beef Carcass Group
1. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
2. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
3. Dino Raciti – ESCO Feeds (Droughtmaster)
Champion Super Ox Carcass
1. Justin Fyvie – Five Star Santa Gertrudis
2. Duncan Watson – JOC Angus and Brangus (Brangus)
Champion Commercial Cow (Biltong Koei)
Justin Fyvie – 5 Star Santa Gertrudis (Santa Gertrudis cross)
